District of Sechelt’s mayor has been given a choice to either step down or accept restricted duty, but he says he will not be silenced by anyone.
It was only last week when the shishalh Nation put forward the letter to the district asking for a new, more competent leadership after John Henderson failed to support a recent demand from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.
The open letter, dated Sept. 20, states Henderson has put any reconciliation efforts between the Nation and the District of Sechelt at risk, and they had really hoped for more from any municipal leaders.
During a council meeting on Wednesday a lengthy discussion on the letter and how council should proceed was conducted with all members weighing their thoughts on the situation.
Councilor Dianne McLauchlan expressed her thoughts on the matter, calling Henderson’s actions disrespectful and unworthy of representing the public.
During her speech on Wednesday, she says council needs to do the right thing to rebuild the trust of everyone who lives in the area, and all levels of government.
“I feel we’ve lost the respect of the public, of council and staff, First Nations and of the SCRD due to your [Henderson’s] actions, none of us have had anything to do with the situation that has come up,” she says. “I think we need to have a serious closed conversation, this can’t continue, not for two years or another four after that.
“When you [Henderson] didn’t support the resolution that speaks volume to a lot of people, so I would want to ask you to resign, and I probably will. I know you don’t want to, but you don’t want to accept blame for anything in the report either.”
She adds the letter isn’t an isolated issue, and change is needed for the better of the community and to further relations across the region.
“Here we are constantly dealing with one thing after another, which is based on what you [Henderson] dictate should be happening,” she adds. “Governance hasn’t been transparent, to me it has been unbelievable, and it has to stop.”
At the conclusion, councilor Alton Toth addressed council with a motion that he felt would respect the wishes of the shishalh Nation and restore transparency and public trust.
“Council appoints the acting mayor as the District of Sechelt’s council Indigenous Relations Liaison,” he says. “They will help build constructive between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and aim to improve the relations between the shishalh Nation and District of Sechelt.
“Furthermore, the mayor disengages and to not correspond with the Nation as a representative of the district.”
The vote passed six to one, with Henderson opposed to the motion.
Henderson says he accepted but calls the motion a poor choice.
“I will abide by the directions of council but I will not be restrained in terms of continuing to reach out to friends and maintaining relations,” Henderson says.
Henderson maintained during council he has no intention to step down as mayor of the District of Sechelt and plans to run in the next election.
According to the council meeting, more discussions on the matter will be held behind closed doors, but no firm decision has been made as to how they will proceed.
